Silverman to the Pope: 'Sell the Vatican'

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Comedian Sarah Silverman has a message for Pope Benedict XVI: "Sell the Vatican: Feed the world."

Silverman's video is making the rounds on YouTube just ahead of World Food Day on Friday.

"You preach to live humbly, and I totally agree," Silverman says in her profanity-laden spot.

"So now maybe it's time for you to move out of your house that is a city," she said. "You'll be the biggest hero in the history of ever."

The waggish suggestion has already drawn the ire of Catholic League, which denounced Silverman for her "obscene" suggestion.

"Silverman's assault on Catholicism is just another example of HBO's corporate irresponsibility. Time and again, if it's not Bill Maher thrashing the Catholic church, it's one of his guests," said the league's Bill Donohue.

"There is obviously something pathological going on there: Silverman's filthy diatribe would never be allowed if the chosen target were the chief rabbi of Jerusalem and the state of Israel. Here's a reality check for Silverman: the Catholic church operates more hospitals and feeds more of the poor than any private institution in the world."

Silverman's schtick often includes profanity and she is known as an equal opportunity offender, taking on many other groups in her Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central.

The Vatican declined comment on her satirical video.

The Rome-based UN Food and Agriculture Organization recently reported that global food output will have to increase by 70 per cent to feed a projected population of 9.1 billion in 2050.

Food aid to poor countries would need to rise from $7.9 billion to about $44 billion annually.